Full sail ahead for city's exports thanks to shipbuilding, ICs and agriculture

The Dalian Night event adds color to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, in January. XU BOYUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Despite global economic complexities and geopolitical uncertainties, Dalian reported marked growth in foreign trade, showing vitality and resilience.

Dalian Customs data show the city in Liaoning province generated 166.21 billion yuan ($24.52 billion) in imports and exports during the first four months of 2026, an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase, setting a record and accounting for nearly 64 percent of the province's total foreign trade volume. Its exports grew by 18.9 percent year-on-year to 88.21 billion yuan during the period, surpassing national average growth.

Behind the upswing in trade are the city's three dynamic sectors: shipbuilding, integrated circuits and specialty agricultural products.

From January to April, Dalian exported vessels worth 15.56 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 118 percent. Integrated circuit exports maintained rapid growth, reaching 8.43 billion yuan and jumping 91.5 percent year-on-year, while exports of specialty agricultural products reached 11.83 billion yuan, up 13.5 percent.